Faucet water softener



' Reina-ed .Ita-1931 "#UNl'rr-:nf vS136.-TF.

v Re? '20238 t visant r. um Paterson, N. 1.,.sricrmk.

' pencer Dohert- Company, .New York,v N Y., af

original No. asians, am :uml e. 193s, f

N. ssassaommeaissz.. sppuum nuv v reflue 'October 20.11934,"8erlsl No.749,318

comm. A Ct 2194-24.)

. 'Ihis invention relatesto faucet water softeners, and it comprises anapparatus adapted for either permanent or temporary attachment. to waterl faucets ofordinarytypewherein abed orbody ofV tightly packed granularbase exchange material visheid in a container between-foraminous waterdistributing elements at top and bottom of the bed and the containerbasa detachable bottorn chamber casingand a top chamber casing integral.with the mnmner, me bottom chamber casing b eingadapted to support oneof said foraminous elements land the top chamber casing having I'mansfor holding down the .other of said element, thebottom and top-casingsbeing providediwi'th laterally' extending inlet and outlet .means forwaterfthe inlet being adapted for connection to the water' faucet. andme bot;

' tom and Vtop asings beit. provided with closable openings forVintroduction and discharge of, regenerating solution; all as more'fully hereinafter setfolth andasclaimed.. I

softening water by baseeexehangeis a well Vknown art which has reached ahigh-stage g thatjit may be attached and connected tem-- ent by way' oflarge scale apparatus. A -number of small scale portable water softenershave been promised for use in connection with single waterfaucets in thehousehold kitchen or bathroom or laundry but these leave much to bedesired in convenlenceand effectiveness.

In the present invention we provide what may be termed a faucet watersoftener in thesense porariiy or permanentiy.'if desired-tothe ordi--nary household water. faucet, the softener functioning to"deiiversoftened water. in a stream as .from a faucet and regeneration beingreadily accomplishedwithout detachment or dis'connec-' .tion of thesoftener from the faucet. The valve.- less softener is in eifectl acontinuation ..fthe faucet. f

mit; umalgform. our fmt. water softener.'

comprlsesa container for-the base exchange seolite' or other vwatersoftening material; the

zeolitebeimplacedinthecontainerasabedof' tightly packed held at topand'bottom between twoscreens or other foraminouselementsadaptedtodi'stribute water evenly through thebed."niecontainerisadvantageouslymade 'of We have found thata'containermadessadiecsstingofaluminumalloyedwithper.cmtsiliconis'particularlyadvantageouaThecontsinercastingmsybeastraightwalledcylindercr'beslishtly taperedinwardly towardsthe top. Thecontainermaybeadiecasiingwitha lnving`acasing cst'integrallylas or outlet means in' the' 1:09 and bottomchambers,

flow throughl the tightly packed granular zeolite the faucet, the topcasing vand the bottomv closure partofthecontainer casing,thetopcasingbeing formed with internal ribs for 'holding 'the upper screenagainst displacement. The bottom .portion of the container is madedetachable and thelower screen is supported by a spider and ring 5 whichmay be for-'screwing into the container cylinder; there being a bottomclomreV member detachabiy connected to the spider and held thereby,this-forming the casingfor a chamber beiowthe lower screen and. having awater tight connectionV with the casing cylinder. Both the topcasingandthebottomclosurememf. 1 ber .have lateral e providing fluid inlet oneof these lateral extensions being adapted for connection on its upperside to a water faucet and the otherlateral extension having aspoutor'downward projection adapted to direct an outflowing-stream of waterdownwardly. When the bottom lateral extension is provided with the inletconnection to .the faucet the softener is adapted for softening byupward flow; when the inlet connection is through the lateral extension0n the top chamber, softening is by4 downward bed. The container isprovidedwith means for giving substantially rigid attachment to thewater faucet .with which the water connection-is made.-

For regenerationwithout disconnection from member of the softenercontainer are provided with ciosable openings. These closable openingsmay take the form of threaded holes with screw plugs which may be madeof non-corrodible material such as hard rubber, or the material known 35under the'trade name of Bakelite. Advanta- 1 geously .'the closableopening in theiop casing is at the bottom of a. funnel-shaped depressionformed in the top casing. These Der' mit the pouringv of salt solutioninto the container to pass through the zeolite bed.' They constitute"separate means Afor introducing the regeneratin'gvmaterial.'

As stated ante, the bed of water softening material is packed tightlybetween the screens. which are heid by thevcontainer at top and bottomof the bed. This permits uniform distribution of the water. through thebed and prevents lmdue channeling: the capacity of the softener betweenregenerations being thereby materially increased. through a watersoftening bed has usually been preventedbyleavingafreespaceabovethebedtopermit movement andolassiflcation of thegranules. lWe

lop'

. top screen which is supported by the spider ar such as we have in ourfaucet softener, the softening action of ne granules of seoiite is moree'ective -in a'tightly packed bed locked at top and bottom by screenskor other foraminous elements.

-In assembling thesoftener of the present invention the zeolite isintroduced through the bottom of the casing and is packed well upon therangement of the top chamber-'.casing. Then the bottom screen isinserted and the threaded spider is screwed into the container to holdthe bottom screen. Finally the bottom closure meni-` ber is put on andattached to the spider as by means of a lag screw bolt. 'I'he softeneris then ready for attachment and connection to a water faucet.

"Fig. 1; and

In most cases the mechanical wear upon the zeolite in water softening isslight and a' bed may last for an indefinitely long time vwithoutrequiring renewal. However, in the case of a locked bed, suspendedmatter carried by the water will gradually penetrate into the bed. Whena substantial amount of impurities has' been accumulated in this mannerit will, to some extent, interfere with proper functioning of theapparatus. 'I'his condition can be remedied by removing the zeolite fromthe container, washing it and repacking it into theA container. Such eprocedure, however, is cumbersome and, the

.quantity of zeolite involved being relatively small,

we preferto provide a new bed contained in a metallic cartridge with nescreens vforming the top and bottom. 'I'his cartridge can be inserted inthe container casing in place of the original bed and screens, andguarded against by passing or short circuiting of the water ilow aroundthe cartridge by means of one or more gaskets placed between thecartridge and-the container.

. In the accompanying'drawing we have shown more or lessdiagrammatically typical embodiments of-our invention. In this showing,

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section, partly in elevation, of a faucetwater softener such asl described; v

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the softener of A Fig. 3 is a view inelevation partlyI broken away and showing parts in section of a softenercontaining a cartridge rell.

"Referring to the gures, a container casingA I of cast metal and of`circular' cross section encloses a softening chamber 2 containing apacked bed I of granular water softening zeolite or other granular baseexchange material. At the top and bottom of'this packed bed or body varelayerslandiofzeoliteofcoarsergrainthan that of the main body. Aboveand below these layersarewire screens I andlwhich hold the zeolite bedand prevent movement. thereof. As shown. the top-screen I is-heldagainst a shoulder l formed in the. containmcasing. Above the upperscreen i is a chamber 0 enclosed inra top chamber casing Il. which. asshown, is integralwiththecasingi. Topcasing I Dis formed with adepression in its top forming a ible composition such as that knownvunder the'j trade name of Bakelite'?. 'I'he top chamber 2 isv providedwith a water outlet It which extends laterally downward from nearthetopof casing I0 and. is open to the atmosphere.

'I'he bottom screen 1 is supported by a spider I8 having ribs I'I and aring I8 threaded into the casing I. The screen and spider formaremovable 'partition inthe casing. A bottom closure memberl I 9 isheldin water tight engagement with the bottom edge of the casing I bylag screwA 2i screwed into spider I6 with an interposed gasket betweenmember I9 and casing I. A` gasltet 2in prevents leakage around thescrew. Inthe side of the closure member I9 is a threaded opening closedby'a gasket 22a and a screw plug 22" made of non-corrodible material.The plugs I4 and.` 22 are advantageously screwed into brass in serts IIband 22h respectively. These inserts,

knurled onthe outside and threaded on the inside, are placed in thecasting mould and the melted metal ispoured around them so that the fmetal interlocks with the knurling, making the The bottom,

insert and the casting integral. closure member encloses a chamber 23and is formed with a lateralextension 24 with an enclosed passage 25 tochamber 23, which serves as an inlet distributing chamber. It is'advantageous to have passage 25 smaller in cross section than outletI5. Fitted in the top of the lateral extension 2l is a rubber member 26having reinforcing ribs 21 and a central aperture 2B ladapted to ilttightly over the mouth of a water faucet. The

rubber member is held in place by a cap 2l screwed upon the lateralextension 24. 'I'he arrangement serves to make a water tight connectionwith an ordinary water faucet. The bottom closure member is providedwith pins 30. In connection with these pins a chain II serves forattachment of the softener to the water faucet with whichy waterconnection is made through rubber member 26. l v

In assembling the softener the basing is hem upside-down with the bottomclosure and spider removed and the screen l is inserted and placedagainst shoulder l and the holding members I2.A Then the layer l ofrelatively coarse grained zeolite is placed upon screen and hner grainedzeoiite is packed tightly into the container. The packing can be done invarious ways. The zeolite can be putin in small portions and eachportionl tamped down by a wooden plug or the like. Or the zeolite may beplaced in the container and shaken down and forced down by a platescrewed down'by the spider. After the finer zeolite has been packed downthe coarse layer 5 is put in and then screen 1 is secured by screwinginthe spider. The bottom closure member is then attached by screwing inlag screw 2i and the softener is then ready for attachment andconnection to a faucet.

In operation, the water issuing from the faucet is softened in itspassage through the-zeolite bed and softened water is discharged throughoutlet l spout I5. Chamber 23 acts in cooperation with 'I'he softenerlmay be allowed to stand for some time afterpouring in the saltsolution, the plugs are replaced and the remaining salt solutm is thenrinsed out by opening the faucet for a few moments and allowing the'water from thefaucet CII to pass through the softener. Ordinarily, wiia zeolite bed for example about 3 inches in diameter by 4 to 5 inchesdeep, about 4 tablespoons of salt dissolved in a quart of water sufiicefor regeneration with a quart of water for rinsing.

In Fig. 3 is shown means which may be used for replacing or renewing thezeolite bed in the softener.

in the cylindrical casing i. The cartridge may be made of thin sheetmetal with its top formed of Aa screen 6a and its bottom ofa screen 1a.I'hese screens are advantageously held by cartridge caps Bb and Ibsoldered to the cartridge, one of the caps being soldered after thecartridge has been packed full of granular zeolite. In replacing thezeclite bed in chamber 2 the cartridge is inserted with a gasket 31interposed between the cartridge. and shoulder 8 and the, cartridge isheldin place by spider I6 with its ring I8 screwed into casing i.

While we have described our invention in connection with its particularuse for water softening it is apparent that it may also be used forother purposes such as water ltration. For such use the casing I or thecartridge 36 is filled with a filtering material such as sand oractivated carbon. The main body of the filtering material may be finewith layers at the top and bottom of coarsel material. In some cases itmay be advantageous to fill the casing I or the cartridge 36 with alayer of zeolite and a layer of activated carbon. It is to be noted thatwhen the activity of the activated'v carbon layers is spent, thisactivity of the carbon may be` restored and the filter sterilized byremoving the plugs I4 and 22 and pouring through a'solution of sodiumhypochloarite.4

What we claim iszl. A portable water softener adapted for attachment andconnection to a water faucet and comprising a softening chambercontaining a body of packed granules of base exchange material, twoforaminous water distributing elements holding said body at top andbottom, two members holding said foraminous elements so as to lock saidbody against movement both at top and bottom, the top holding memberbeing integral with the chamber casing and the bottom member being aspider screwed to the chamber casing and supporting the bottomforaminous element, a

Such means comprise a metallic car- ,tridge 36 of circular crosssection, fitting closely bottom closure member for said chamber attachedto 'the spider and having laterally extending means for connectlngthechamber at a pointV let means extending laterally downward from thechamber at a'point above said locked body and. two closable openings inthe chamber respectively above and below said locked body and ofmaterial, said apparatus being adapted for attachment to a water faucet,a castmetal containerfor the water treating bed, two water distributingscreens held in the container at bottom and top of said bed, a spiderscrewed into the container and adapted to Supp rt the bottom screen, abot,-

tom closure member enclosing a space below the bed, said member Abeingdetachably connected to the spider so as to be held in water tightengagement with the edges of the container, liquid inlet means laterallyextending from said closure member and adapted for direct connectionwith the water faucet, a top chamber with a casing cast integrally withthe container and having transverse .ribs to hold the top screen againstdisplacement and liquid outlet means extending laterally downward fromthe top chamber casing. v

3. In a faucet water softener in which water from the faucet is passedthrough a locked body of granular water softening material held in acontainer between twoA foraminous water distributing elements supportedrespectively by a top holding member vintegral with the container casingand by a detachable spider threaded into the container casing at thebottom, means for replacing and renewing said body of granular materialwhich comprises a thin walled cartridge tightly packed with saidgranular material and having a foraminous top and a foraminous bottomforming integral parts of the cartridge, saidl cartridge fitting closelyinto the container casing and being held against the top holding memberby the threaded spider at the bottom, and means interposed between thecartridge and the container casing toprevent bypassing of the water flowaround the cartridge. l

4. A portable water treating apparatus adapted. for attachment andconnection to a water faucet and comprising a water treatment chamber, aremovable thin `walled cartridge packed tightly with granular watertreating material and tting closely into the chamber, said cartridgehaving an integral foraminous top and an integral foraminous bottom, twospider members holding said cartridge at the foraminous top and bottom,one of said spider members being integral with the chamber casing andthe other being threaded into the casing so as to hold thecartridge-against the first spider member, a gasket interposed betweenthe cartridge and the chamber casing and held by the threaded spider toprevent bypassing of the water flow around the cartridge, a removableclosure member for the chamber attached to 'the threaded spider,laterally extending means for passing water into said chamber andlaterally extending means for passing water outof said chamber, one ofsaid means having communication with-said chamber above the top of saidcartridge and the other of said means having communication with saidchamber below the bottom of said cartridge.

5. A portable water treating apparatus adapted for attachment to a waterfaucet and comprising a chamber containing a bed of granular watertreating material, two foraminous distributing elements holding said bedat top and bottom, two spider members holding said foraminous elementsso as tolock said bed against movement -both at top and bottom, one ofsaid spider members being integral with the chamber casing and the otherbeing screwed to the `casing and supporting its respective foraminouselement, a closure member for said chamber attached to the screwedspider, laterally extending means for connecting the chamber to thewater faucet, outlet means in the chamber, one of said means beingconnected to the chamber above said bed and the other of said meansbeing connected to the chamber below said bed, and two ciosable openingsin the chamber respectively above and belowsaid locked bed and adaptedto introduce and discharge regenerating solution.

6. A valveless portable regenerative upfiow base exchange water softeneradapted foi-connection to a water faucet and comprising a container,

a closed water softening chamber in said conf tainer for holding a bodyof granules of base exi locked against movement ofgthe body, a secondchamber in said container below said softening chamber and as an' inletwater distributing chamber, said distributing chamber having an openingformed in an outer wall, removable closure means cooperating with theopening, t movable partition held in said container to define the twochambers and to lock said packed granule body in a nxed position in thesoftening chamber, fora'minous water distributing means in saidpartiti'cn, a removable closure forming the bottomof said secondchamber. and permitting removal o'f said partition, laterally extendinginlet means in a side wall of the water distributing chamber adapted forconnection to a water faucet and outlet means for softened water open tothe atmosphere and having communication with the softoning chamber atits top. z

VINCENT F. LAMELA.

ERIC PICK. WILLIAM SPENCER

